Bilge-water alarm



BESTAVAXLABLE COP.

(No Model.)

0. UPTON.-

BILGE WATER ALARM.

' Patented Dec. 4, 1894.

WITNESSES: Md, By

L/IQ

ATTORNEYS.

BEST AVAILA LE COP.

UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE.

ooLcoRn UPTON, or SALEM, MASSACHUSETTS.

BlLGE-WATER ALARM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 530,368, dated December4, 1894.

. Application filed February 1, 1894. Serial No. 498,747- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CoLoonn UPTON, of Salem, in the county of Essex andState of Massachusetts, have inventedanew and Improved Bilge-WaterAlarm, of which the following is a full, clear, and exa'ctdescription.

The object of the invention is to, provide an improved float-operatedcircuit closer for marine vessels, for giving an alarm upon the rise ofthe water above a predetermined height, and the improvements are moreparticularly designed to insure a more eflicient electrical contact,upon a rise of the water, than generally results from the devicesheretofore employed. 7.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination ofparts, hereinafter described and claimed.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar letters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a side elevation with the case partly broken away, the partsbeing in the normal position, that is, with the circuit open. Fig. 2 isa vertical section showing the parts in position to close the circuit.Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on line 3-3 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 4 is abroken detail sectional view, taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

In constructing and arranging an alarm in accordance with my invention,an improved float-o erated circuit closer is provided, of which '10 caseA contains the movable parts and su ports the binding posts. In theupper end of the case, which preferably is cylindrical, a disk B isfitted and supports the binding posts 0, which form the terminals of theline wires and each consists of a screw 0', the shank of which projectsupward from the under side of the disk B, through and above the latter,a lock nut C on the shank adapted to bear on the under side of the disk,and the sleeve 0 which has a threaded engagement with the shank of thescrew 0 above the nut 0 and carries the clamping lever C The upper endsof the binding posts are slotted as at c for receiving the levers 0 eachof which has a cam head 0, which is normally sufii ciently above thebottom wall of the slot in which it is pivoted to permit entrance of thewire. This construction promotes convenience in the connection of theline wires, 2. single movement serving to permit entrance of the wireand a throw of the lever to bind the same.

In the bottom of the case, which is open, a base D of skeleton form itdetachably secured in the manner hereinafter explained, and averticalrod d on said base, projects through an aperture in the disk B,and forms a guide for the float E, and the movable contact plate. Thusthe float E-is centrally apertured for free movement on the-rodd onwhich it slides, and surroundingthe rod and resting on a seat 6 on thefloat is a spiral sprin'g F, on the upper end of which is yieldinglysupported the contact plate G, of suitable conducting material. Theplate G is centrally apertured to loosely fit on the rod (1, and isseparate from the spring F, being merely seated on the latter, thearrangement being such that the plate is free to tilt slightly. Thusupon the float rising in response to a rise of the Water, should theplate strike one terminal only, the continued upward movement of thefloat and the spring will tilt the plate, if necessary, until a firmcontact is bad with both terminals. The spring F is of such a height aswill maintain the contact plate considerably removed from the float E,to prevent any normal rise of the water from reaching the plate, withthe consequent liability of corroding it and preventing a properelectrical contact with the terminals. Further, the case is designed tobe immersed in water once a day, or at other proper intervals, fortesting the devices, and this frequent immersion will have nodeleterious efiect on the contact plate since the latter will not bereached by the water. This construction is of great importance, aspractical experience has demonstrated that with the ordinary weakbatteries usually employed and the tendency of the movable contact plateto corrode, it is practically impossible to maintain such a nicety ofadjustment as will efiect a contact with the terminals, where the platemoves only in a direct line toward the terminals. By permitting thecontact plate to yield as described, a pronounced and efficient contactis insured.

The rod d, the float and the contact plate and its spring are allsupported on the base 580,368 BEST AVALABLE D, and in order that thelatter may be readily detached to permit cleaning or renewal of theparts, the base is provided with laterally projecting studs d, and inthe lower edge of the case A, L-shaped slots H are formed after themanner of a bayonet joint, and at the inner end of the horizontal memberof each of said slots is formed a seat h in a lower plane than thebranch of the slot that leads to it, whereby the studs, when entered inthe slots H, and the base D turned, will be firmly seated and will lockthe parts against accidental disengagement.

A vent aperture b is produced in the disk B for the entrance and exit ofair as the float rises and falls.

A suitable bail I, is provided on the case, for suspending it and foruse when carrying the same.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent 1. The herein-described circuit closer,comprising a case having terminals for the line wires, 3 guide rodextending vertically within the case, a float guided on said rod, aspiral spring seated on the float and ranging vertically in the case,and a contact plate yieldingly supported on the spring, substantially asdescribed.

2. The combination, in a float-operated circuit closer, of a case, aninsulating cap in the upper end of the case, binding posts sup ported onthe cap and extending to the inner side thereof, forming terminals forthe line wires, a base detachably secured to the bottom of the case, aguide rod extending upwardly from said base through the cap of the case,a float having guided movement on the rod, a spiral spring surroundingthe rod and supported on the float, and a contact plate also havingguided movement on the rod and supported on the spring, to tiltrelatively to the axis of the case and float, substantially asdescribed.

3. The herein described circuit closer, comprising the followingelements, to wit: a case having an insulating cap with a vent orificeand carrying binding posts extending to the inner side of the cap, askeleton base fitting the lower end of the case and provided withlateral studs, L-shaped slots leading from the lower edge of the casefor receiving said studs, seats communicating with said slots at theinner ends thereof and located below said inner ends of the slots, avertical guide rod on the base, a float having guided movement on therod, and a contact plate yieldingly supported from the float by aninterposed spiral spring, substantially as described.

COLCORD UPTON. Witnesses:

J. L. MGAULIFFE, O. SEDGWICK.

